I'm raising funds for Ashgate Hospice for whom I have set up the Peter Crawley Ashgate Hospice Tribute Fund as a living tribute to my husband Peter Crawley or Pete C to many.  

Pete worked for almost 40 years at the Post Office, at the AGD building in Chesterfield before his retirement in 2006. Many will know him from there and will know of his passion for all things railway related.  

He was a wonderful, kind man who couldn't do enough for anyone. The main passions of his life were Steam Railways, especially the GWR, The Little Midland Society and Real Ale. He was thrilled when he was given the opportunity to have his photo taken with the number plate and cab side plate of Crawley Grange.

He was secretary of The Little Midland Society for just over 44 years and a member longer than that.  He organised many wonderful days out for club members and trip regulars too. He was very much involved in the club's Exhibitions which were held at the Winding Wheel in Chesterfield most usually to be found in the kitchen making tea, an event which also raised funds to Ashgate Hospice.

He was also a member and staunch supporter of the Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society attending as many of their events as possible, usually to be found with camera, taking record shots of the various engines that came through. 

He had a wide network of contacts and always knew when a "special" was coming through and would pass the information round and be there to take a record shot.

Some people will remember him for the slide shows that he gave mostly of railways and engines but also on other transport related themes .  

Pete and I knew each other from the Little Midland Society and in 2005 he started asking me out, we got engaged in 2006 having taken a train journey for a holiday to Nice. We married in 2008  with the full approval of my three daughters and which came as somewhat of a surprise to all his friends and family as they were beginning to think he would never marry. When we married he inherited 3 step-daughters and 3 step-grandsons, two more grandsons have since been born during our time together - somewhat of culture shock to a batchelor of 58 years!. He always did have a soft spot for all the grandsons.

He was thrilled when both his younger 2 stepdaughters asked him to give them away at their weddings in 2012 - he was very much the proud father of the bride on those days.

Pete was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer on 24  December 2010 which came as quite a shock to us both but especially to Pete - he had always thought that it was just a bit of back ache that he was suffering from - but he never let the diagnosis never get him down and carried on regardless, determined to make the most of things.

Peter was taken into Weston Park hospital just before August bank holiday 2013 where they hoped a course of radiotherapy would help control the pain and allow him some mobility. It was not to be. He was there for about three weeks when he was then transferred to Ashgate Hospice. 

The Hospice macmillan nurses had been involved with Peter's care whilst he was at home from the beginning of August. They were really wonderful with him and the care he received whilst at the Hopsice itself could not have been better.

Although my time with Peter was so very short, we packed a lot into that time and I miss him so very much. 

I know Pete had always considered Ashgate Hospice a worthwhile cause and he would wish the hospice to continue to be available to everyone who would need their specialist care in the future. 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s a most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.